The University of St. Thomas again was included in Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges. Last year marked the first time the school made the list, appearing in the 2011 edition of Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges.
For the 2012 edition, the Princeton Review conducted surveys of 768 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada last summer, giving each school a “Green Rating” (on a scale of 60 to 99) based on its “strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.” To make the guide, schools needed a score of at least 83. Scores for individual schools were not published in the guide.
Each school’s listing contains “green highlights” as well as statistics on its “green facts,” student body and cost. Some of St. Thomas’ “green highlights” include: the Xcel Energy 2011 Efficiency Partner Award for its use of Windsource to power its St. Paul campus, Anderson Student Center’s application for LEED silver certification, and its plentiful green student organizations, among many others.
Ten other Minnesota colleges and universities made the 2012 guidebook: Bemidji State University, Carleton College, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Gustavus Adolphus College, Macalester College, University of Minnesota − Duluth, University of Minnesota − Morris, University of Minnesota − Twin Cities and Winona State University.
Princeton Review first published its Guide to Green Colleges in 2010, when 268 schools made the list.
The guide is available for download, free of charge.